I've been wondering for a long time why they didn't do this. I would think it would be considered a state issued Photo ID for voting too.


A Texas state representative is looking to combat food stamp fraud by sponsoring a bill which would require the state’s health and human service commission to add names and photos to state identification cards for food stamp users.

Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) introduced legislation that would task the Texas Health and Human Service Commission with adding photos and names of each food stamp recipient on “Lone Star Cards,” which are the state’s Electronic Transfer Benefit (EBT) cards used to provide food stamp benefits to those in need.

The state ID cards give food stamp users access to government welfare programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The bill would also require the state to have greater oversight over how often state residents apply for new benefit cards as a way to cut down on fraud in the state food stamp program.

Phelan said he introduced the bill because food stamp fraud in the state is commonplace, adding that the most common fraud cases in the state occur when benefit recipients exchange their state benefit cards and PIN numbers for cash at convenience stores.

“Individuals taking advantage of taxpayer-funded benefits are far too commonplace,” Phelan said in a statement. “We must make certain our most vulnerable Texans receive the food and supplies they desperately need; however, selling one’s Lone Star Card for cash is unacceptable. We need common sense safeguards to protect Texas taxpayers.”

State investigators found millions of dollars worth of food stamp fraud in Texas over the years. In 2016, investigators uncovered $17 million worth of fraud in 154 counties, according to state records.

Federal investigators have also uncovered millions in food stamp fraud in other parts of the country. In one case, investigators found that an Ohio meat business conducted $8.4 million in fraudulent SNAP transactions.


https://www.breitbart.com/poli...ng-photos-ebt-cards/

great idea,
How about this...

Make them show up someplace and get a bag of groceries like a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, a jug of oil, some salt, some meat, some veggies...
Why should it be convient ?

Or just put enough money on the card to get the basics?..once it’s lost or stolen or anything else that person doesn’t get anything again until the new month rolls around

And if ever, EVER found to be swindling the system, it’s bye bye, no more for you...ever.

I'm sure that somehow, putting pics on the card is "racist". Personally think this is an excellent idea!

quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
I've been wondering for a long time why they didn't do this. I would think it would be considered a state issued Photo ID for voting too.

While I see where you're going with that, I wouldn't deem it an appropriate "voter ID card", as there are too many illegals and felons that get EBT cards, i.e. all EBT card-holders are not eligible to vote. At least that's my thinking...

quote:

I've been wondering for a long time why they didn't do this. I would think it would be considered a state issued Photo ID for voting too.

Makes too much sense. Also the democrats will argue that the black folks are too stupid to get a picture taken, just like they are somehow incapable finding a DMV or have the ability to use the internet. So somehow, this proposal will be racist.

Many of the objections to a photo I.D. at the voting booth are not from the minority voters themselves but from Democrat Party activists! Obviously it makes it harder to commit voter fraud but to me the idea that liberals do not consider voters smart enough and that they must be led by the hand would make me strongly consider voting for someone else. Hence the reason they do it.

Meh. I think this is a waste of time.

My debit card has my photo on it. The photo was taken nearly 20 years ago, when I was 16. Every couple years, my bank sends me a new debit card, with the same old photo printed in the top corner. It looks nothing like me now. Hell, I don't even have hair now.

Not once has a cashier ever given it a glance.

Same with signatures on the back of cards. Some folks don't sign their cards at all. Some put something like "See ID". Nobody ever gives them a second look.

Cashiers just don't care.

Besides, most transactions these days, the cashier doesn't even look at or handle the card at all. You swipe it yourself at a card reader.

Bonafide genius! God bless Texas

Not bad. Make them double as time cards that only fill with work done by the hour. Now we're talking!

quote:

How about this...

Make them show up someplace and get a bag of groceries like a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, a jug of oil, some salt, some meat, some veggies...

Ah yes, the olden days. When people would have to line up for their government cheese. Then they'd walk around the corner and sell it for cash.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Meh. I think this is a waste of time.

My debit card has my photo on it. The photo was taken nearly 20 years ago, when I was 16. Every couple years, my bank sends me a new debit card, with the same old photo printed in the top corner. It looks nothing like me now. Hell, I don't even have hair now.

Not once has a cashier ever given it a glance.

Same with signatures on the back of cards. Some folks don't sign their cards at all. Some put something like "See ID". Nobody ever gives them a second look.

Cashiers just don't care.

Besides, most transactions these days, the cashier doesn't even look at or handle the card at all. You swipe it yourself at a card reader.

I used to write on the back of my credit Cards: "See picture ID". Maybe one in 20 cashiers would ask for ID.

quote:

great idea,
How about this...

Make them show up someplace and get a bag of groceries like a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, a jug of oil, some salt, some meat, some veggies...
Why should it be convient ?

50 years ago my first State Agency job after college was working with the "Donated Commodities" program which did issue 'government cheese' and a lot of other basics. Beans/rice/flour/cooking oil/peanut butter etc.

Secretly in tandem with other farm programs, it was a county/state/federal arrangement which somewhat stabilized farm overproduction while giving otherwise unemployable gov.drones like myself some notion of 'being employed'.

It had a raft of critics including a large percentage of those who got free donated commodities but were too busy to stand in a line or bring something to haul the groceries home.

quote:

I've been wondering for a long time why they didn't do this. I would think it would be considered a state issued Photo ID for voting too

I’m not convinced that people on the government teat should have voting rights, but maybe that’s another matter.

When a well-dressed 20-something Asian or Latino woman with a grocery card full of high-end canned & bottled beverages is in front of me in the checkout line, she will be "paying" with a "SNAP" card.

I've witnessed people digging for "their cousin's card", finally retrieving an envelope with contents one would associate with an alternate identity.

Several months ago the Monster energy drinks brand removed that single word to its nutritional label and then like magic, food stamps users could buy the drinks. - Nov 1, 2013

quote:

It had a raft of critics including a large percentage of those who got free donated commodities but were too busy to stand in a line or bring something to haul the groceries home.

I suppose then they are not as bad off as they seem is convenience is more important than survival.

And since all you do with one is either swipe or insert in machine and then input the passcode... what good would it do? I presume the casher will have to check the PHOTO first before authorizing the payment.... I know it sounds petty but that takes time and will eventually cost 'us' more money.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
I’m not convinced that people on the government teat should have voting rights, but maybe that’s another matter.

BOOM!!! Right here...I was just about to post the same exact thing.

Maybe if they worked more like liquor licenses(on the business end), where the business has to check for I.d. or chance getting their license revoked, then ALL the cashiers would check/verify that the person using the card was the actual person it belonged to.

quote:

Originally posted by MagicHorse:
Maybe if they worked more like liquor licenses(on the business end), where the business has to check for I.d. or chance getting their license revoked, then ALL the cashiers would check/verify that the person using the card was the actual person it belonged to.

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This for sure.

how about you ONLY get an EBT card if you're a citizen, or a legal resident

current photo, and a fingerprint on every card

make the card harder to get as well